County officials signed the paperwork Thursday to close the real estate deal transferring the title of the 478-acre former International Paper mill property from Rentech to Adams County for $9.25 million.

The county entered into a contract to purchase the property in March.

Rentech had purchased the land in 2008 with the announced intentions of building a coal-to-liquids fuel plant that would have created 400 jobs. However, the company later scrapped those plans because of cost concerns.

International Paper operated a mill on the site from 1948 until 2003. County officials told the Natchez Democrat that they hope to bring industry back to the site.